​Meet the Author: Devoney Looser

Hello! I'm Devoney Looser, Professor of English at Arizona State University. (I pronounce my name DEV-oh-knee LOE-sir.) I also go by Stone Cold Jane Austen, especially when I'm on roller skates. I grew up in Minnesota, where postage-stamped sized backyards were turned into winter ice rinks using garden hoses, and cold weather brought more opportunities to snuggle up and read great books. Now I live in the desert, near a fantastic roller rink. I have the good fortune to teach Jane Austen to college students, and I serve as the faculty adviser to ASU's roller derby team. (That's how I got my alter-ego nickname, playing roller derby.) I met my husband--also an English professor and Austen scholar--over a conversation about Mansfield Park, and together we're raising tween sons who find Austen tolerable but un-tempting. I have a personal website, too, if you want to learn more about what I've been up to lately: www.devoney.com

Is It right for your book club?

Yes, definitely! The paperback edition now includes a brief reader's guide with discussion questions. I'd love to hear from you if you're considering choosing it.

This book works best in clubs familiar with Austen's fiction OR its film adaptations. (You could read or watch Pride and Prejudice and then choose this book.)